32 works dating from 8th to 10th century and collected from many places in Quang Nam Province are on display in this gallery

1. Dancing Siva

Date: 10th century
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [15.3]
Location: Phong Le

The tympanum was found at Phong Le, Quang Nam Province in 1890 and became part of the museum collection in 1901. It depicts the supple S-shaped body of Siva dancing with 14 arms arranged in a circle. Beneath Siva, musicians are playing instruments and devotees are enjoying the god’s dance.

As the god of dance, Shiva is  famous for his Tandava, the dance symbolizing the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily rhythm of birth and death.

2.Dravapala.

Date: 7th to 8th century
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [9.4]
Location: Khuong My

Dvarapala is the Gate Keeper who guards a temple against devils. This god is usually characterized with a bellicose attitude and threatening face, with the raised hand brandishing a thunderbolt, and the other pressed against the hip. A cord, or sometimes a snake, is  across the body .
 
The sculptures [9.4] and [9.5] in the Quang Nam gallery are a symmetrical pair.

3.Krishna.

Date:  7th -8th century
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [17.6]
Location: Khuong My

Krishna, the god of Pasture, is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. The theme of Krishna is not popular in Cham sculpture. The work on display in the Quang Nam gallery depicts the god raising the mountain Govardhana on one finger and giving the cowherds shelter underneath it during the unceasing seven-day rain caused by the god Indra.

4. Yaska.

Date: 5th century
Material: Sandstone
ID No:  [20.2]
Location: Tra Kieu

The god is sitting cross-legged with his hands on his thighs. Bands of soft, cloud-like flowers cover both sides of the head which reminds us of some early Indian and Khmer sculptures.
 
In Hindu mythology, Yaksas are forest deities and  caretakers of natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots.  Because of their dual personality, they are usually good but sometimes wicked. They can take in the form of human beings or trees in the forest.